Pulsars

Pulsars

Pulsars are stars that emit brief, sharp pulses of energy instead of the steady radiation associated with other natural sources. They have diameters of only 20km or less. Pulsars have been observed with pulse rates from 4 seconds to 1.5 milliseconds; the very rapid ones are called millisecond pulsars. The pulses occur at precise intervals, but successive pulses differ considerably in strength. The interval between pulses decreases ever so slightly with the passage of time, and it is believed that the slower pulsers are the older stars while the rapid pulsers are the younger. [VH] {EP} {EB}